libby davis
02-19-2011, 09:53 AM
Hope I can find some quick help.
My home is rented - I live in another state. Tenants tell me that this morning the hot water heater (a gas unit, installed in an attic state select brand)
emptied itself.
They heard water rushing through the pipes and hot water was streaming out of the overflow pipe on the front outside of the home. They cut the water off at the main supply and left it. They are leaving town and i am out of town. trying to determine if I need to get someone in ASAP. A few questions
#1 The hot water heater has not been touched.
there is a dial on the bottom front that indicates it is an automatic gas shut off that once tripped cannot be reset. It has 3 positions - Off, Pilot and one not labeled (assume that is on). It still appears to be in the on position.
Can a consumer safely turn that to off to shut of gas? if so i'll have a neighbor go in and do it?
#2 The water supply to the water heater is still on. If we shut off the gas (I assume that is what the step above will do) then turn the water to the home back on will that be a problem?
#3 Any ideas what could have caused this? it will be Monday before anyone can be there to wait for a professional to service!
My home is rented - I live in another state. Tenants tell me that this morning the hot water heater (a gas unit, installed in an attic state select brand)
emptied itself.
They heard water rushing through the pipes and hot water was streaming out of the overflow pipe on the front outside of the home. They cut the water off at the main supply and left it. They are leaving town and i am out of town. trying to determine if I need to get someone in ASAP. A few questions
#1 The hot water heater has not been touched.
there is a dial on the bottom front that indicates it is an automatic gas shut off that once tripped cannot be reset. It has 3 positions - Off, Pilot and one not labeled (assume that is on). It still appears to be in the on position.
Can a consumer safely turn that to off to shut of gas? if so i'll have a neighbor go in and do it?
#2 The water supply to the water heater is still on. If we shut off the gas (I assume that is what the step above will do) then turn the water to the home back on will that be a problem?
#3 Any ideas what could have caused this? it will be Monday before anyone can be there to wait for a professional to service!